Japanese Tales of Mystery & Imagination

by Edogawa Rampo, James B. Harris (Translator)

Collected in this chilling volume are some of the famous Japanese mystery writer Edogawa Rampo's best stories—bizarre and blood-curdling expeditions into the fantastic, the perverse, and the strange, in a marvelous homage to Rampo's literary 'mentor', Edgar Allan Poe.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Japan, Fiction, Mystery, Japanese Literature, Classics

222 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

Hirai Tarō (平井 太郎), better known by the pseudonym Rampo Edogawa ( 江戸川 乱歩), sometimes romanized as "Ranpo Edogawa", was a Japanese author and critic who played a major role in the development of Japanese mystery fiction.

Reviews

[Bill Kerwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edogowa Rampo--just say his pen name quickly three times to discover how much he loved Edgar Allen Poe--is considered the first and foremost writer of Japanese mystery fiction. He is also much more.

His stories, structured as popular "entertainments," are designed to convey all the pleasures of genre, and yet they possess an elegance and intellectual complexity greater than mere popular works. In this Rampo resembles Borges, and yet the two writers are very different. Borges is more philosophical, Rampo more psychological; Borges teems with puzzle and paradox, Rampo with obsession and ratiocination, and yet each celebrates man's inventiveness while still being woefully aware of his limitations. Indeed, I think Rampo's stories may be equal to Borges--which is a high compliment indeed--but I cannot be sure, for this translation often lacks the verbal elegance that would best communicate the formal beauty of these tales and give them the extra polish a first class work requires.

All the nine tales here are very good, and "The Caterpillar," "The Hell of Mirrors," The Red Chamber" and "The Traveler with the Pasted Rag Picture" are excellent, but I must single out "The Human Chair" for special mention. It is one of the most memorable pieces of short fiction I have ever read, containing an extraordinary first-person monologue which is pathetic, disgusting and horrifying at the same time. Read it if you read nothing else of Rampo's. But I bet you won't stop there.

[The Artisan Geek]

23/5/21
Finally made a video review
------------------VIDEO REVIEW------------------


30/6/20
This was a great collection in my opinion and it now holds two of my favourite horror stories (The Human Chair and The Red Chamber). I do have note that the representation of disability in here was disheartening, but not surprising seeing the history of how disability has been portrayed in literature. Definitely something I would like to talk more about in the future. Either way I look forward to discussing this book during the Fortnight Frights readathon :)

22/6/20
Picked up this book, because I was in the mood for some horror -- it hasn't disappointed so far :)

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[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m glad I finally read this collection, since, as with Edgar Allen Poe for American literature readers, only moreso, these tales are universally familiar to Japanese readers. The tales themselves? Fine, but none of the stories were special or memorable. All were well-written and reminiscent of Algernon Blackwell in style.

[inciminci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inwardly, I shrieked with laughter.

Japanese Tales of Mystery and Imagination was this year's Halloween read for the Shine&Shadow reading group in which we aim at reading one spooky story per day, everyday in October.
The whole thread is here!

Though somewhat old-fashioned and stale, there were still some disturbing ideas in these mysterious tales to be found, which I didn't always enjoy, but accept the perverted brilliance of.

Take, for instance, the first story “The Human Chair”, which is exactly what the title says it is and it's disgusting, really. Or “The Caterpillar” which was just cruel and depraved. My personal number one of the collection is “The Hell of Mirrors” which explores what effects our own reflection has on us and how maddening that can be (Edogawa Rampo died in 1965, so he should see us now and re-write that story with selfies). I mainly liked this story because it has a very crazy, yes almost insane, but lightheartedly insane main character who furthers his non-normalcy with his obsession and has a lot of fun in doing so.

The themes, characters, narration styles and even character names turn repetitive after a while and although this was a nice group read, I won't actively seek Rampo's books in the future.

[P.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Most Bewitching Story-Teller

A delightful collection of seminal short stories written by a master of the mystery/horror tropes, it has been my honour and provilege to enjoy this buddy-read with my most witty friend Tara, whose name so closely resembles the author's!! (Taro) :D

A more specific discussion of the tales and themes will follow, when I'm done with life and its social occasions getting in the way :)

-----

This collection of short stories was truly unexpected. And yet I have been looking forward to reading it since... the mid 2010s! These manifold stories went wonderfully unforeseen, and all were a thrilling discovery and a heart-warming remembrance of other stories read elsewhere, but told differently... In short, this magnificent collection provided me with a feeling of foretold serendipity :) A true fragment of literary cross-pollination, by the books read in the past and the remarkable freshness of the writing style, the flowing of the narration, simple and so rich with possibilities!

In a word, what I most appreciated in this little book was, odd to say about a translation but, the unique voice of its writer or joint author, whose presence I felt throughout the pages... Are you here with us, Edogawa Rampo? :)

The Human Chair - 5 stars
The Psychological Test - 3 stars
The Caterpillar - 4.5 stars
The Cliff - 4.5 stars
The Hell of Mirrors - 4 stars
The Twins - 4 stars
The Red Chamber - 4.5 stars
Two Crippled Men - 5 stars
The Traveler with the Pasted Rag Picture - 5 stars

[Mariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect murder. Japanese Tales of Mystery & Imagination, or, as it should have been called, How to do the bloody deed and get away with it without facing criminal charges or the accusing finger of society (the bird, probably). No civil suits, no karmic payback! No coming back as a roach in the next life, that's right. It's essentially the same perfect murder in a lot of the stories. The getting away with it the appeal rather than the murder (wouldn't anything else work just as well?). It's like how all of the long and short cons of today are the same old long and short cons of yesteryear with a few tweaks here and there. Murder is a chili with the right amount of seasonings. The ideal blend is in the next spoonful. If you can live with yourself. If you can live as someone else then you have created the perfect alibi. I was them and they were me.

He (Edogawa is not his real name. He was trying to make the authorities think that Edgar Allen Poe was the culprit. Anagrams are so obvious!) tried to kill me. Paper cuts, falling asleep with the book on my face when I had left it on the pillow when I went to sleep. He had plans a, b and all the way through z. It was plan f that nearly did me in. I'm used to breathing through my mouth because I suffer from bad allergies in the spring time. The book on the face didn't work. I don't know if the crafty and craftier Rampo planned this or not. Probably. He comes back more times than Rambo. The pages over my eyes caused the ink to bleed into my eyeballs (I wasn't crying in my sleep. It was the dust that made my tear ducts leak!) and the words eased into my sleeping vision like a pink flashback from Saved by the Bell. The page on my cheek rising and falling with my ragged breath (allergies are a nightmare). Edogawa Rambo took over my subconcious mind. They were not my own feet walking in my dreams. I was Edogawa Rambo's mind corners. The trains of thought went to new worlds and I couldn't really get in because I didn't have the proper papers. I was the human chair man loving the bodies of another, their unknowing flesh to his one sided skin, in his hidden home of voyeurism and secondhand life and love. Touching is being touched. Murder through losing yourself, becoming another person in another's soul windows rather than your own, doing the same to others with your own eyes. See what you want to see. Hear no evil. To relate to the chair man (how could I not, as much as I read?) and then "Hey, did I make you think?" non-sucker punch line. Well, one of us is a sucker. "It's just a story" like people say to deny the sustaining of inner life and death. Murderer! To feel the writer's eyes behind the page would be living as the human chair. Real or not real wasn't the point.

That's what sucks about short stories. They end and you can't go any further. It is awful to be killed that way! To lose the voice in the back of my mind that says "Hey! These endings are the opposite of a punch line. I get the feeling he wants to say the true horror is in the desires rather than the action. Nothing happens for good or evil. Fucking impotence. All of the scares are the stuffed and mounted cat in Scooby-Doo episodes and I'm not reading my own mind anymore. Trapped in a purgatory of wicked impulses." It would have been better to feel those desires, rather than be the recipient of them that way of did I make you think? To know how the wife felt the pleasure of torturing her utterly helpless husband. To feel it myself. What's in theory? The best moment was the grim satisfaction in his eyes (his sole expression. He was murdered in voice and body language of love) looking at newspaper articles and medals of war for his "sacrifice". If I knew why the wife enjoyed her power, why the husband enjoyed being a martyr, I would have lived in the story. I could imagine better the sick satisfaction of being harmed because I have spent a lot of time feeling sorry for myself. "Sacrifice this!"

Killed. If one could make someone else have a somnambulistic experience that is how they would do it. Sleepwalking, nightmare walking, daymare walking. All in shoes that are not your own but you don't notice the clown killer shoes are too big for your size eights. That's how you get away with it. You're gonna get caught if you stop to think! If I'm right that Rampo's getting away with it was about the mental hold and free will thing over messy clean-ups.

Plan Z he sent my twin to try and take my face. I couldn't tell the difference. Did it work?

[Mizuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I am determined to lay bare before you a confession--my own--and to describe in detail the terrible crime that I have committed..."

Yeah, now you have my full attention!

And...welcome to Edogawa Rampo's realm of daydreams and nightmares, dark passion and secret desire.

(1.1) In fact, I had read the Chinese translation of this book repeatedly through the years, so I know many of the stories by heart. Anyway reading them again in Engish can be refreshing~

(1.2) Seriously, nothing can beat the short story 'Human Chair'--a masterpiece among short detective novels, by Mr. Rampo, master of horror and mystery!

(2) What I learned: killing people and covering your tracks is not easy, hehehe. 😔

(3.1) the obsession with committing the Perfect Crime, and how Edogawa narrated the stories in the tone of an excited child.

(3.2) and yes, what dear old Edogawa was interested in is the 'how' and the 'why' of a Perfect Crime is planned and committed~hahahaha~

(4) And you just have to give credit to the guy for liking himself with Edgar Allan Poe and pulling it off quite nicely~

(5) The story of the 'Red Chamber' and the Perfect Crimes, it borrows so much imaginaries from traditional Gothic writings (e.g. Poe) and I think the story is more of a 'moral lesson' kind of thing?

(6) I am glad to find two more new English translation of Rampo's novels in the market, great.

After note: don't you ever get me started with all the giggling I have done for all these Bungō Stray Dogs fanfics (Edagawa Rampo/Edgar Allan Poe is a thing, mind you. 🤣)

[Harun Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

কোনো বাড়তি প্রত্যাশা না থাকায় বেশি ভালো লাগলো। শিরোনামে "অদ্ভুতুড়ে " যুক্ত থাকলেও শুধু উদ্ভট ঘটনায় বইয়ের গল্প সীমাবদ্ধ থাকেনি, বরং বেশিরভাগ গল্প বেশ বুদ্ধিদীপ্ত ও চমকপ্রদ। বিষয়বৈচিত্রও চোখে পড়ার মতো।লেখক মানুষের অবদমিত আশা, হিংসা, জিঘাংসা খুব সূক্ষ্মভাবে ফুটিয়ে তুলেছেন। লুৎফুল কায়সার অনুবাদক হিসেবে আগে থেকেই বেশ পছন্দের; অনির্বাণ ভট্টাচার্যের কাজও সাবলীল। সবচেয়ে ভালো লাগা গল্প হচ্ছে - মানবচেয়ার, প্রতিলিপি, আসল খুনি কে?, লাল ঘর ইত্যাদি।

[Olivia Loccisano · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new favourite short story collection. In Japanese Tales of Mystery and Imagination, Edogawa Rampo creates disturbing realities, perverse characters, and magical worlds with human motives. The prose in each story is concise and true, and the diction is consistently haunting. If you, like me, are a fan of body horror, you must read this collection! In many ways, it seems to be the very essence and beginnings of the sub genre.

Here are my ratings of the stories inside this very peculiar read:

TALES OF MYSTERY:
- “The Psychological Test” (5/5)
- “The Cliff” (5/5)
- “The Twins” (4/5)
- “The Red Chamber” (5/5)
- “Two Crippled Men” (4/5)

TALES OF IMAGINATION
- “The Human Chair” (5/5)
- “The Caterpillar” (5/5)
- “The Hell of Mirrors” (3.5/5)
- “The Traveller with the Pasted Rag Picture” (5/5)

41.5/45 (4.5/5)

* rounded up for the special quality of the overall collection, the foreword + translator’s preface *

[Camilo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una maravilla, me quedé con ganas de más!!

[Scarlet Cameo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lectura con el grupo 221 b Baker street

Esperaba mucho y me supo a poco.

-RTC-

[Ana Cristina Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edogawa Rampoo (si se pronuncia rápidamente suena Edgar Allan Poe) contribuyó decisivamente al desarrollo de la ficción de intriga y misterio en Japón a principios del siglo XX. Partiendo de modelos occidentales como Poe y Connan Doyle, su obra tiene unas características propias de su cultura que la llenan de encanto. Muy popular por sus series detectivescas, también ha cultivado el misterio sobrenatural y el horror como en la presente antología.

Es una colección de relatos muy variada y original, extremadamente popular en Japón desde su publicación en 1956. La atmósfera onírica y opresiva de muchos de ellos me ha recordado a las películas de terror japonesas como The Ring o Dark Water.

Me ha gustado especialmente La butaca humana, te transmite sensaciones casi físicas, está muy bien escrita.

[El · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having just finished off The Science Fiction of Edgar Allan Poe, I wasn't quite ready to fully return to the world of novels. Luckily this book was recommended for this month's book club read and very perfectly the author's name is a pseudonym, a play on Edgar Allan Poe. Say it out loud: Edogawa Rampo. Get it?

These stories are certainly not as gruesome as some of Poe's, and they're certainly not as long as some of Poe's either. But these are good too, in their own right. If nothing else, they're a lot of fun to read. I don't know if I've ever read any Japanese short stories, and I know I've never read any Japanese short stories along these lines, so this was a good experience as well. They weren't as creepy as I would have liked - they bordered on sort of simplistic by the time the stories ended, many had convenient endings - not quite "and it was all just a dream" but similar feelings of copping out.

But these stories do focus on the duplicity of human nature, the psychology, and occasionally the psychoses. In other words, they weren't too far of a stretch. I could see situations like many of these actually happening. Which is, after all, where the true creepiness comes in.

For the book club it was recommended that The Human Chair, The Caterpillar, and The Hell of Mirrors be the three people read for discussion. But I'm an overachiever and read them all because they're short stories and enjoyable to boot. Out of the three suggested for book club, The Human Chair was the most interesting to me, but the others were also good.

A note on the translation, from the introduction:

Edogawa Rampo, while fully capable of reading and understanding English, lacks the ability to write or speak it. On the other hand, the translator, a Eurasian of English-Japanese parentage, while completely fluent in spoken Japanese, is quite unable to read or write the language, as he was educated solely in English schools. Hence, for each line translated, the two collaborators, meeting once a week for a period of five years, were forced to overcome manifold difficulties in getting every line just right, the author reading each line in Japanese several times and painstakingly explaining the correct meaning and nuance, and the translator sweating over his typewriter having to experiment with sentence after sentence until the author was fully satisfied with what had been set down in English.

I love that anecdote. It shows such dedication on both parts to want to bring these stories to a whole new population of readers. I'm sad that these stories aren't better known and more widely read. I don't think it would be inappropriate at all to read a few of these along side of Poe's short stories in schools.

[Nancy Oakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading this book off and on for a while and decided to take the day to finally finish it. I'm adding it to the stack of books to post about so it will be a few days. For now, anyone who reads this book and makes it through "The Caterpillar" deserves a medal for bravery. Sheesh! That story so unnerved me I had to put the book down for a while, worried that the remainder of the stories would be like that one. Luckily that didn't happen. My vote for best story: "The Traveler With the Pasted Rag Picture," which was so very nicely done and definitely on the supernatural side, while the others were filled with people with many twists in their psychological make up.

more to come...

[Мартин Колев · Rating 5 out of 5]

Човекът кресло и други японски мистерии - Едогава Рампо

Уоу...Това е една толкова различна книга ,в сравнение с всичко,което съм чел досега . Дори леко ме провокира да се замисля дали да си взема и "Спасяване на светец",която е в духа на японския криминален жанр.

Иначе тук водеща роля имат мистериите - ситуациите,при които си мислиш едно,а то излиза съвсем друго ,без излишни обрати,емоции и завъртулки - просто едно плавно побутване до ръка скалата и след това яко пропадане,за да излезе,че е просто нещастен случай. Случват се такива работи. ;)

И да, каква по-голяма мистерия от убийството ,която се явява основната тема,около която се върти действието,но не само то,а и мотивите за него,различните начини и какво може да накара един човек да отнеме живота на друг . Да,парите са основен мотив,но ако си хитър,можеш и да успееш да си ги изхарчиш.

Всеки един от разказите ми хареса и дано в бъдеще се появят още подобни творби,които да те накарат да се събудиш в 7 отведнъж.

[Димитър Цолов · Rating 5 out of 5]

Добра първа среща с Бащицата на японския модерен криминален разказ, като, разбира се, отчитам времевата рамка, в която е творил.

Съдържание: 1. Човекът кресло 2. Психологическият тест 3. Гъсеницата 4. Скалата 5. Огледалният ад 6. Близнаците 7. Червената стая 8. Двама осакатени мъже 9. Пътникът с картината от плат

Над половината от творбите, включени в томчето (съвсем логично) разглеждаха темата за извършването на съвършеното убийство - 2, 4, 6, 7 и 8; други три психарии бяха ориентирани около нездравите човешки обсесии – 1, 3, 5, а един разказ се отличи с класически паранормален привкус – 9.

Направи ми впечатление, че Рампо е имал (понятие – моя хрумка) оптикофобия, защото централната роля в част от сюжетите бе отредена на огледалата, биноклите, телескопите и микроскопите и тези предмети/уреди съвсем не бяха безопасни.


Ако прочетете на глас името Едогава Рампо* и продължите да го повтаряте, то ще ви се струва все по-познато и по-познато; и би трябвало, защото това е японското произношение на името Едгар Алън По (представяне на автора от Елъри Куин)

*Едогава Рампо е псевдоним на писателя Хираи Таро (1894-1965)

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this at an Oxfam bookshop in Manchester, and it made my day. Best find of 2011! And this isn't the Rampo book I have already ordered through my local bookshop (and has yet to arrive). How lucky is that?

The Human Chair: My favourite. It's all gone a bit "Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected".

The Psychological Test: How to catch a criminal with word-association games.

The Caterpillar: Disturbing.

The Cliff: Not amazing.

The Hell of Mirrors: Nuts. I liked this line: "having now reached the age of twenty, he began to show a keen interest in the opposite sex," Isn't Japan great?

The Twins: I don't think Rampo should use abandoned wells in more than one story.

The Red Chamber: Like a bad "Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected" (of which there were quite a few).

Two Crippled Men: Yeah, good story.

The Pasted Rag Picture: Genuine surprise with this one. Had absolutely no idea where it was going.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc46Gk...

[Zak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edogawa Rampo is the pen name of Taro Hirai, who is widely regarded as the father of Japanese mystery. It seems he was greatly inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, hence the name "Edogawa Rampo". In this collection of short stories, he takes us into the world of the strange and the macabre.

Some of the stories are more riveting than others, but the straightforward storytelling makes them all engaging throughout. His stories maintain more a sense of mystery and the bizarre, compared to Poe's which instill more a sense of dread and terror. Based on this book alone, I would liken Rampo more to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, albeit a darker version of him. The best story to me would be 'The Human Chair'.

Final rating: 3.8*

[Shuhan Rizwan · Rating 4 out of 5]

এদোগাওয়া রাম্পো’র একটি গল্পই আমি পড়েছিলাম অনলাইনে। দা ক্যাটারপিলার। দুর্দান্ত সেই গল্প পড়ে আগ্রহ হয়েছিলো এই জাপানি অ্যালান পো ভক্তকে পড়ে দেখার। কিন্তু বই যোগাড় আর হয়ে ওঠেনি। অনুবাদ এই সংকলন দেখে তাই চট করে কিনে নিলাম।

পাতানো একরকম দাবা খেলার সাথে তুলনা ��ানা যায় এই ধরনের গল্প পড়াকে। পাঠক আর লেখকের মাঝে একটা অদৃশ্য প্রতিযোগিতা চলে, যেখানে পাঠক বসে থাকে লেখকের কাছে হারতে। লেখক যদি লিখতে জানেন, তাহলে অতি ব্যবহৃত কায়দাও পাঠকের কাছে নতুনের মতোই লাগে। আর রাম্পো সত্যিই লিখতে জানেন।

দুয়েকটা ব্যতিক্রম বাদ দিলে মোটা দাগে এই সংকলনের গল্পগুলো একটা বিষয়কে কেন্দ্র করেইঃ কোনো কিছুর প্রতি ঘোর, অনুক্ষণ একটা কিছু নিয়েই চিন্তা করা। মোহ মানুষকে কোথায় নিয়ে যেতে পারে, রাম্পো তার গল্পের জালে আটকে সেটাই পাঠককে দেখান।

[Oscar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Estos son los nueve relatos incluidos en ‘Relatos japoneses de misterio e imaginación’ (traducción de la versión inglesa, Japanese Tales of Mystery and Imagination, 1956), del escritor japonés Edogawa Rampo, seudónimo de Hirai Taro:

La butaca humana. (****) La protagonista, escritora, recibe una extraña y fascinante carta. Gran relato, tanto en su desarrollo como en su final.

El test psicológico. (***) Fukiya, un joven estudiante, decide poner a prueba su inteligencia cometiendo el crimen perfecto.

La oruga. (****) Tokiko cuida de su marido gravemente herido en la guerra. Magnífico relato, sobre todo en sus últimos párrafos.

El precipicio. (***) Una pareja charla al borde de un precipicio, donde saldrán a relucir oscuros secretos.

El infierno de los espejos. (***) El narrador nos habla de la extraña obsesión de su amigo Kan Tanuma por los espejos.

Los gemelos. (***) El relato es la confesión de un preso condenado a muerte por asesinato.

La cámara roja. (***) Siete sepultureros se reúnen para contar historias.

Los dos inválidos. (***) Dos ancianos entablan amistad en una posada, y hablan de la procedencia de sus heridas.

El viajero con el cuadro de la figuras de tela. (**) Durante un viaje en tren, dos hombres comparten vagón. Durante la travesía uno de ellos enseña la pintura que lleva, para posteriormente contarle la historia de la misma.

En definitiva, el libro me ha gustado, hay misterio e imaginación, como reza el título, aunque esperaba más de ambos. Se nota la influencia de Edgar Allan Poe, pero también la de Stevenson y Hoffmann. Son historias perturbadoras, muy bien escritas (o traducidas), y que dejan con ganas de más.

[Gintautas Ivanickas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edogawą Rampo (tikrasis vardas – Tarō Hirai) tikriausiai jau galima vadinti japonų literatūros klasiku. Na, o jei, sakysit, dar per anksti, tai bent jau vienu iš detektyvinės tradicijos japonų literatūroje pradininku – tikrai galim.
Net jei nežinočiau apie jo žavėjimąsi Edgaru Allanu Poe (apie kurį byloja jau pats pasirinktas slapyvardis, kuris japono ausiai skamba panašiai į amerikiečių autoriaus vardą), kūryboje tas pėdsakas šviečia labiau, nei ryškiai.
Apsakymai balansuoja ant detektyvo ir mistikos ribos, viename labiau nusvirdami į vieną pusę, kitame – į kitą. Dažniausiai pagrindinis dėmesys nukreipiamas į detales, į tai, KAIP įvykdytas nusikaltimas, pačiam gi tyrėjui erdvės paliekant labai šykščiai.
Klasika, žinoma. Ir viskas ok, bet su visa pagarba iš šiandieninės perspektyvos išspaudžiu labai skystą ketvertą.

[Malice · Rating 4 out of 5]

No había leído a este autor y ha resultado todo un descubrimiento. Hay algunos cuentos muy retorcidos, como solo los japoneses podrían hacerlo, jajaja, pero igualmente los he disfrutado bastante.
Todavía sigo dándole vueltas a "La butaca humana", es que me ha dejado un nuevo miedo desbloqueado.

[Encarni Prados · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un autor desconocido para mi hasta hace muy poco, hasta que mi hija me lo descubrió porque era uno de los escritores que aparece en un manga que le estaba encantado. El nombre que utiliza es un seudónimo que es una traslación fonética al japonés del nombre del gran Edgar Allan Poe, al que el autor (Hirai Taro) admiraba. Como fan de Poe me picó la curiosidad y vi que era considerado un maestro del terror japonés. ¿Qué más alicientes necesitaba para leerlo? Ninguno. He empezado por este libro de relatos y he de decir que no me ha defraudado en absoluto, al revés, me ha parecido un maestro por su forma de escribir y por las historias que cuenta, me he vuelto fan suyo, así que buscaré más historias suyas porque me ha conquistado.

[Ellis ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Se devo essere sincera ho scoperto dell'esistenza di questo scrittore durante la visione di una puntata dell'anime "Detective Conan" nella quale veniva citato quindi posso ben dirlo... Galeotto fu quell'episodio!
In quest'antologia, Ranpo con uno stile davvero accattivante e fluido - non tralasciando l'atmosfera "fumosa" tipica dei romanzi nipponici - commistiona diversi generi: si passa dal grottesco, all' horror, al poliziesco e altro ancora... Eppure pur appartenendo alla collana "Urania", nota per la pubblicazione di libri di fantascienza, in questa raccolta di fantascientifico non ho trovato nulla.
Hirai Taro, questo il vero nome dell'autore, si nasconde dietro lo pseudonimo "Edogawa Ranpo" omaggio onomatopeico al giallista di fama internazionale: Edgar Allan Poe.
Per essere il primissimo approccio con questo scrittore devo ammettere che l'impressione è più che valida, pertanto farò il possibile per recuperare anche le altre sue opere.

Valutazione per singolo racconto:

La sedia umana ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vicenda paradossale, dall'epilogo assolutamente non ordinario, avente come protagonista un fabbricante di sedie con un proposito davvero bizzarro, al limite della morbosità.

Test psicologico ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
Racconto dall'impronta fortemente poliziesca\mistery con tendenza al giallo. Gradevole ma, viste le numerose congetture sul piano logico, l'arrivo alla soluzione del caso ritengo sia stato un po' sbrigativo.

Il Bruco ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
Tortuoso viaggio nella psiche di un uomo e della sua compagna il cui destino sembra già segnato... Ansiogeno e raccapricciante.

La Rupe ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dialogo tra amanti dal risvolto tragico.

L'inferno Degli Specchi ⭐️⭐️
Lo scrittore analizza, con pochi passaggi, quanto sia facile scivolare dall'ossessione alla follia.

I gemelli ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reso sotto forma di un'accorata confessione di un condannato a morte, ancora una volta, il tema centrale è il delitto.

La camera Rossa ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1\2
Protagonista di questo racconto un uomo davvero subdolo e perverso che dell'omicidio ha fatto una vera e propria vocazione, pur restando impunito sia per le istituzioni sia a livello di coscienziosità.

I due menomati ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1\2
Racconto il cui punto focale è la manipolazione psicologica di un individuo facilmente influenzabile.

Il viaggiatore con il quadro di stoffa ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Storia poco plausibile su un amore talmente travolgente da portare a conseguenze imprevedibili che avranno delle ripercussioni non indifferenti.

[Samsudduha Rifath · Rating 5 out of 5]

এদোগাওয়া রাম্পো আমাকে বিস্মিত করে দিয়েছেন বলা যায়। একটা সংকলনের সব গল্প ভালো লাগবে এমনটা ভাবা যায় না, কিন্তু জাপানের অদ্ভুতুড়ে সব গল্প সেই ধারণাকে দুমড়ে-মুচড়ে গিলে ফেলেছে। বইটিতে নয়টি গল্প আছে এবং প্রত্যেকটি আমার কাছে ভালো লেগেছে। প্রতিটির প্লট সম্পূর্ণ আলাদা। প্রত্যেকটি গল্পের চরিত্রের মনস্তাত্ত্বিক দিক এবং তাদের কার্যকলাপ আমাকে চমৎকৃত করেছে।

এই সংকলন থেকে আমি দুটো করে গল্প পড়তাম, পরে বিরতি দিতাম। আবার দুই-একদিন পর আরও দুটো পড়তাম। অসাধারণ লেগেছে সংকলনটি। অনুবাদ নিয়ে কোনো আফসোস নেই। লুৎফুল কায়সার এবং অনিবার্ণ ভট্টাচার্য্য—দুজনই অনুবাদে সমান পারদর্শী। সঙ্গে সম্পাদক হিসেবে ছিলেন আশরাফুল সুমন। তাই বলাই যায়, সংকলনটির অনুবাদ নিখুঁত হয়েছে।

যারা অদ্ভুতুড়ে গল্পের খোঁজ করেন, তাদের জন্য বইটি হাইলি রেকোমেন্ডেড । নটিলাসের বই এই প্রথমবার সংগ্রহে এল। চমৎকার প্রোডাকশন ও পেজ সেটআপ।

[Merl Fluin · Rating 5 out of 5]

42 SHORT STORIES IN 42 DAYS*

DAY 31: The Hell Of Mirrors
I think this may be the greatest of all Rampo's stories: like the mirrors it describes, it creates a horrifying image of the creation of horrifying images.

*The rules:
– Read one short story a day, every day for six weeks
– Read no more than one story by the same author within any 14-day period
– Deliberately include authors I wouldn't usually read
– Review each story in one sentence or less

Any fresh reading suggestions/recommendations will be gratefully received 📚

[Lily Havilliard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es un buen libro, pero no era buen momento para leerlo

[Aravena · Rating 4 out of 5]

So dark and strange, yet so delicious.

This is the second Ranpo I’ve read following The Early Cases of Akechi Kogoro, but whereas that collection is more of a conventional detective story, this one feels more versatile and accentuates Ranpo’s storytelling strengths better.

The recurring theme of the nine stories in this book are the narrative style, in which a character recounts a strange story to another character (or to the readers), before a morbid twist is revealed in the end of these stories. The recount style varies between stories, and they’re mostly very effective, in addition to being accessible and thrilling page-turner. Ranpo’s pet themes can be spotted numerous times: various methods of murder, the psychology of physically and mentally disabled men, and reflecting devices such as mirrors and binoculars.

The Human Chair
A man sends a letter to a female writer about the erotic adventure of him hiding inside a chair. The highlight of the book, and despite the somewhat weak ending, it remains my favorite story here. The story gets weirder the more it goes, and climaxes with a terrifying twist that genuinely sends a shiver down my spine. There’s a second twist that unfortunately negates the impact of the revelation, but there’s also enough room left to the readers’ interpretation in the end.

The Psychological Test
A fascinating story that breaks down the flaws in the use of ‘lie detection test’ to discover a murderer. Ranpo’s detective, Kogoro Akechi, briefly appear to crack the case here (thankfully without the customary let’s-spare-the-murderer-and-blame-someone-else nonsense), but most of the story are told from the murderer’s account.

The Caterpillar
A darkly erotic story told by the wife of a horribly disfigured man. A depressing story, but also very vivid in its brutally honest narrative. It unexpectedly has a bittersweet ending that left a strong impression on me.

The Cliff
A woman and a man discuss the recent death of the woman’s husband. A bit predictable, but I enjoy the ending and the pure dialogue (it’s written like a theatrical script) form.

The Hell of Mirrors
In which mirrors are goddamn scary. A story about a man obsessed with mirrors, this feels more like a dark sci-fi story, or even a straight up horror.

The Twins
A man’s confession about how he murdered his twin brother. Decent story with a dose of black comedy at the ending.

The Red Chamber
A man recounts his murder methods to his club mates. The methods of murder discussed here are very interesting, but this one has the weakest ending among the stories here. Much like The Human Chair, this one has a shocking twist negated by the follow-up “hahaha just kidding, it never actually happened” twist. Again, another story that could’ve been better if Ranpo doesn’t pull his punches and just go ahead with the initial twist ending.

Two Crippled Man
A sleepwalker recounts his disease to a new friend. I keep guessing what is the twist throughout the story, and in the end Ranpo still surprised me. Nice one.

The Traveler with the Pasted Rag Picture
An encounter in a train leads to a strange story with an even stranger ending. A decent end to the collection that feels slightly different with the rest, perhaps due to the more atmospheric description.

~

So yeah, this is basically The Twilight Zone: Japanese Style. That’s certainly my kind of thing; lots of fun with murders, bizarre supernatural events, plot twists, and the dark corners of human mind.

[Juan Nalerio · Rating 3 out of 5]

El presente ejemplar se compone de 9 cuentos escritos por Hirai Taro que tomó el nombre artístico de Edogawa Rampo, que vendría a ser la pronunciación en japonés de “Edgar Alan Poe”. Por lo tanto, ya sabemos que nos vamos a encontrar con un admirador del gran cuentista norteamericano.

Las historias escritas antes de la primera mitad del siglo XX tienen más de imaginación que de misterio. Los personajes están dominados por sus impulsos e instintos primarios llegando a veces a la locura. Hay decadencia y obsesión, ya sea por la muerte o por el amor. Nada que no hayamos visto en occidente.

Destaco el cuento “La oruga”. Es sin dudas el más perturbador y el que impresiona hasta la médula. Es considerado antibelicista y le dio un par de dolores de cabeza al autor. Si se cruzan con dicho cuento, léanlo por favor.

[GD · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this wasn't quite as good as I was thinking it was going to be, it was, at times, much weirder. The first story, The Human Chair, was one of the best, but then, at the end of the story, just thrown on in the last couple of paragraphs, you find out it wasn't real, "but don't you think I'm a good writer?" What the fuck? Why would he (the writer) do that? It was great, and would have ended perfectly if he'd just cut off the end. He did the exact same thing later in another story, The Red Chamber, which was really great, and, like The Human Chair, had a really great ending (and one of the only endings in the book that I hadn't guessed), and then, exactly the same thing. "Haha, got you, that wasn't real, but don't you think I'm a good writer?" Again, what the fuck?! Why?! Just cut off the last few paragraphs, and you have a 10 out of 10 story.

Another strange thing about this book, or the author, is that these are supposed to be mystery stories, of a sort, but the reader doesn't usually get any mysteries, he's just told what happened, and then how people found out about it, which isn't quite the same thing as a mystery story.

Some stories were really unsettling, like The Caterpillar, about a deaf, dumb, and finally blinded mutilated stump of a man and his extremely unhappy, angry wife and extremely unhappy suicide. There are some supernatural elements, such as in the last story, The Traveler With the Pasted Rag Picture. And one of them, The Hell of Mirrors (I think that's the name of it) I would probably rank as one of the best short stories I've ever read, definitely one of my favorites. But beneath all this, they were mostly kind of average murder stories.